DWCS 62 winner Julia Polastri: 'I needed to show all my potential' to get UFC contract

LAS VEGAS – After falling short once on Dana White’s Contender Series, Julia Polastri knew she had to perform.

That’s exactly what Polastri (12-3) did when she submitted Patricia Alujas (9-3) in Round 2 of their strawweight bout to earn a UFC contract Tuesday at Dana White’s Contender Series 62.

Polastri’s first opportunity at a UFC contract came against Jasmine Jasudavicius in September 2021, but she lost the fight by unanimous decision. She rebounded with three straight wins before getting another shot at DWCS, and she wasn’t about to waste it.

“I think I grew a lot in my personal life since the fight, and I needed to learn many things that I hadn’t an idea in that time,” Polastri told reporters during the DWCS 62 post-fight news conference. “Learning all those things clearly made all the difference right now, because I think I’m a person with the mind in the right place now. I got in there, and I knew I needed to show all my potential, all I’ve got to get the contract, and that’s what I did.”

For her UFC debut, Brazil’s Polastri hopes to make a quick turnaround and squeeze in a fight before the end of the year.

“I’d really like to fight this year yet, but now I’m going to have a break of about one or two weeks to relax a little,” Polastri said. “I came to a very long camp since the beginning of the year, and I’m going to take that break. But I’m ready to, when they need me, I’m here, and I hope I can fight before the year is finished.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for DWCS 62.